Ash Rising (DEAd Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

tone.
    “No.” He had to be clear and blunt after her insistent antics. “I’m sorry. You don’t want me, either. Not like that. You know you don’t.”
    Ash cursed Greg—not for the first time. The shit that asshole pulled undermined Lisa’s usually unshakable self-confidence and let her emotions overrule her good sense. If he could come up with an option other than rejecting her…but anything even remotely sexual between them was not the answer. Not going to happen. He cared about her too much.
    He reached out to rub her shoulders, to hug her, maybe, but she shrugged his hands off and turned her back. Mouth opening then snapping shut, he stared at the rigid set of her spine and eyed her with caution.
    “I’m sorry.” V oice dead and toneless, she didn’t turn to look at him. Ash took a step toward her but froze when her body tensed. “No. Don’t. Just…don’t.”
    He heaved a sigh as she bolted from the room and out of the house, the slam of the heavy front door echoing in her wake.
    “Fuck.” He scrubbed his hands over his face.
    He had no idea what the hell just happened.

    Ash didn’t sleep much with the events of the night playing over and over in his head. He hadn’t called Lisa to check up on her, hadn’t made sure she’d made it to her apartment like he always did. Everything had changed the night he’d taken her home from the graduation party. What the hell had he done that changed her attitude toward him? They’d been best friends for eighteen years with nothing sexual between them. Still wasn’t, as far as he was concerned, but something had shifted for her. Shit. No idea what.
    With a yawn and a stretch, he entered the kitchen and thanked the caffeine gods for timers on coffee makers. He’d finished one cup and started on a second when a car pulled up in the driveway. A few seconds later, Daniel’s footsteps rounded the house and thumped across the back deck. He filled another mug as his friend rapped on the door and stepped inside.
    “Morning. Hey. For me?” Daniel grabbed the mug before Ash could respond and inhaled the wafting steam. His eyes closed as he took a scorching gulp. “Ah. Thanks, man.”
    “M orning. What are you doing here? Why is everyone showing up unannounced all of a sudden?”
    Daniel’s eyes popped wide and color filled his face. “Is someone else here? Oh, shit, I’m sorry. You said… I didn’t think you had company last night.”
    “I don’t have a girl here. I told you I had business to take care of yesterday.”
    “You were being serious? You—” Daniel choked on his coffee and waved a hand in front of his face. “You really did work instead of a girl last night? Um, wow.”
    “Shut up.”
    “So, who stopped by unannounced?”
    “Lisa.”
    “Lisa?” Daniel’s brows were getting a workout. “Lisa was here last night? When? What did she want?”
    Ash shrugged and turned to make another pot of coffee. Daniel knew him too well. If he picked up on his discomfort, Ash would never hear the end of it. No one needed to know what happened the night before, mostly for Lisa’s sake. She’d be embarrassed as hell once she came to her senses. Maybe they could just forget the whole situation and move on. Good thing he was about to leave for his new job assignment. Some time apart might not be a bad thing after all.
    “I guess s he wanted to say thanks for the whole Greg thing over the past couple of weeks. She appreciated us being there for her.” Ash deliberately included all of them in reference to Lisa’s gratitude, but did a double take at the look on Daniel’s face. “What?”
    “Did she say anything about what happened last night?”
    “What? No. What about last night?” If something happened to her because he hadn’t seen her home—because she’d made him uncomfortable—he’d never forgive himself.
    “Well, she might not know. Andy was going over to her place.”
    “Daniel.” Ash fought for patience. “What happened?”
    “Ash,